Status Terminated



"Hey Greaseball!"

The young diesel trainlet looked up at the call of his name, and he received a punch in the gut for his obedience. As he doubled over in pain, he could hear the laughter rise from his cousin. "Now stay down…"

And Greaseball obeyed.

Another crash of thunder woke Greaseball up from his nightmare, and he looked outside at the endless rain. He didn't realize he was sweating until some sweat trickled down his nose. 'Great… a blast from the past…'

Greaseball had a rather horrible past, needless to say. A past that many would think he would announce only for attention, but it was the truth. Greaseball sighed, and he looked towards the sleeping Electra, just to make sure he was okay.

He looked damaged beyond repair, and, without Wrench, it seemed that Electra was doomed to die a rather long and drawn out death. Somewhat unfair when you think of it, but Greaseball could feel only a little remorse for him.

His past made him seem pretty cold, he thought, looking back at the rain. This was life; life was unfair. Eventually everyone had to bite it, right?

Electra made a movement. He shivered, but nothing more, leaving Greaseball to ponder. He didn't know if the marshals would think of looking for them in the mines. Then again, he wondered if the Rockies would even remember their task. He chuckled, letting it echo throughout the cave. 'Yeah right,' he thought. 'They're probably scratching their heads...'

If he knew how wrong he was, he would have probably came up with a plan of getting their attention. But he knew the risk of bringing Electra out into the rain.

But even that seemed like a better idea. Sure, it would kill him instantly, but then Electra wouldn't have to suffer so much. It was obvious that whoever attacked them made it to where Electra would eventually die. One, Wrench was gone, and no one in the trainyard or the station, nor even that 'Starlight', could save him now...

Again, Electra moved, but this time it was followed by a low groan and a hiss of pain.

"Take it easy; your systems are REALLY damaged..." Greaseball said, rolling towards him to see if there was anything he could do to make his nemesis' death easier.

"Where am I?" Electra asked, trying to sit up. His chest box began to spark, and Greaseball laid him back down with a simple push.

"Some old mine... no place special..."

Grunting against the pain, Electra then asked, "Where are my Components? Wrench will fix me up in no time..."

That brought a little concern on Greaseball's face, and he looked away before answering, "Electra, they're dead. They're all dead..."

Now the look Electra gave him was bizarre, and it was obvious that Electra did not believe him. "Oh, they're probably on holiday-"

"Permanent holiday..." Greaseball added in. "Look, I know it's probably hard for someone like you to understand, but they're d-e-a-d... NEVER to be repaired again..."

"No, you're lying! I zapped them a million times and they bounce right back up at my commands!" Electra sneered, now trying to get to his feet again. Greaseball just let him; maybe it would quick his death so he wouldn't have to worry about seeing the Electric train hit rock bottom. "You just wait! They'll come back when I command them to!"

"Back from the dead.... no, Electra, PLEASE, just shut up." Greaseball growled, slapping him rather harshly across the face and forcing the train down again. He couldn't stand to look at his golden eyes. "The Rockies and I found Joule crushed, looking like some sort of accident."

Electra quickly covered it up, "So she got into another fight with Volta... she's always playing around!"

"Then we found Krupp, decapitated at the bottom of the bridge."

"Krupp lost his head before!"

"But you don't understand; his wires leading from his central control was torn apart from the rest of his body, thus paralyzing him, and he's been dead far too long. Besides, the rain probably damaged his system even more!"

And again, Electra rose, in spite of his pain. He leaned against Greaseball for support, "What proof do you have?!"

"Shut up; you don't have much longer to live and you're only making it harder on BOTH of us!" Greaseball couldn't control his voice anymore. Why did he have to roll by the bridge today? Why couldn't the rain have come earlier and canceled his duties? "Volta was maimed, and Wrench is dead with her."

"And Purse..." Electra asked softly, It looked as if he was coming back to reality now, and Greaseball nodded.

"I don't know his cause, but... he's dead too..."

Now Greaseball was going to lay Electra back down, but the AC-DC Train did something Greaseball never saw him do before. He cried, and actual tears flowed from his eyes. It astounded him; he always thought Electra was the heartless type, to cover all of his emotions. That's what he did at race night, anyway...

But no, the Electric train was crying, causing himself even more pain.

And Greaseball wrapped his arms around him, trying his best to console him. He couldn't believe himself for doing this, and he spoke softly, his voice muffled in Electra's long red hair. "I'm sorry... that's really all I can say... but... I can't really know how much you cared for them. I can't relate with you on this... and I'm sorry, but... you're going to die soon."

Nothing was said; the only thing that came out of Electra's mouth were painful sobs. Now Greaseball laid him down again, but this time, Electra obeyed. He could feel the Diesel's eyes upon him, even though they were shielded through his helmet. Again, Greaseball apologized, feeling completely and utterly useless. "Sorry..."

Then Greaseball, getting no response again, took a seat, again to be left alone in his thoughts. His mind was a whirlpool now, trying to fight back to urge to remember this horrible place. Trying to control his emotions, to stop himself from freaking out in front of the dying engine.

"Greaseball, you're so selfish!"

Another punch actually brought tears, and the young Diesel kept his face turn from the attacker. That did not save him from the glare at all, though, as he trembled slightly. "What are you whimpering about? Get up and finish that load!"

And Greaseball did that. In fear of being beaten again, the young diesel zoomed towards the darkest part of the mines to escape his cousin's rather and retrieve the coal trucks. His usual yellow coat was jet black, and it you saw him, you would have sworn he was just part of some weird gang. But no, all of the engines looked like this, and it wasn't til after a good washing did the other trains actually see THE Union Pacific.

There he met Lube and Tank, two naturally black trucks that were even smaller than him. Lube saw the streaks down his black face and asked, "What's wrong, GB?"

"Nothing," Greaseball lied, quickly turning from them and grabbing one of the coal trucks. Of course, Lube and Tank coupled to him, for their shift was over.

"Oh, come on, we're friends!" Tank said chuckling, completely clueless. "Buddies!"

"Come on, GB, tell us what's wrong?"

Again, Greaseball lied. They didn't need to know about it; no one did. "Nothing's wrong, now shut up so we don't get late again!"

"You're crying..." Electra's voice broke his deep concentration, and Greaseball rose his head to look towards him. Electra was laying on his stomach, and even though he looked like crap, he still sparkled with the little amount of light that flashed in every now and then. It looked as if his crying had stopped now; Greaseball was relieved to that.

Greaseball lied, doing something was seemed fairly easy to him. "No I'm not..."

Electra shot back, "Yes you are... unless you ran out in the rain..."

"Go to sleep, Electra," he tried to change the subject. He was NOT going to go all sentimental, especially in front of Electra...

"Not... until you tell me why you are crying..."

"I wasn't crying, so I can't give you a reason why I was, now can I?"

"Tell me..."

Greaseball sighed, taking off his jacket and throwing it to him. "Use that as a pillow, unless your bushy Mohawk is a good enough one for you already."

"Funny, haha..."

"Good to see even near death you have a silly sense of humor..." Greaseball snapped. "Use it as a blanket or something."

It seemed that Electra gave up, which something Greaseball was had yet to get used to. Wrapping himself in the black jacket, Electra shivered slightly, and Greaseball noticed how pale his face had become since finding him. Still, the fluid leaked from his battery pack, and he could only guess that Electra had nothing more than an hour or two to live.

It was silent for a few minutes until Electra asked, "Come on, just tell me. Not like I'll LIVE long enough to tell anyone else, you know..."

He had a point there, but Greaseball wouldn't budge. "Why bother. You'll still laugh at me."

"Is that's what it's about?" Electra asked, his eyes dropping. He woke himself back up, determined to get the truth out of him before he officially died. "You know... let's make a deal. How about I tell you MY secret if you tell me yours."

"Electra.... what could you POSSIBLY keep from me..." Greaseball chuckled, his face expressing the words 'try me'.

"What do you think... of Rusty?"

"Rusty? Just some little steamer that got lucky at the race, why?"

Electra's answer surprised him, needless to say. "Do you think.... he and I... would be, I dunno... cute together?"

"What?"

That made the AC-DC Train blush, adding an odd complexion to his face, and Greaseball asked, unable to control the surprised tone in his voice, "I thought you fancied Pearl..."

Electra sighed, his golden eyes dazed. Since he was going to die, he might as well spill his heart, right? It didn't matter if Greaseball made fun of him now... it didn't matter. Nothing mattered, other than the truth, anyway. "I thought I did, but after she ran off with you, I guess it was as if she was just a sample or something. She's nice, but... not exactly what I want..."

Now that was a first, and Greaseball sighed, wondering exactly how much he REALLY knew of this Electric train. "But after thinking about it, and seeing Pearl go back to him, I... guess it was him..."

He flinched, and immediately Greaseball caught him before his entire body hit the ground. In Greaseball's arms, he smiled, "I mean, sure, you still make me green with envy, you know... who doesn't fancy you? Strong... yeah, I would much rather you to have been champ than Rusty, then... then maybe getting Rusty would have been easier, right? Isn't everyone after the top train?"

"Hush now, you're wasting your energy." Greaseball said harshly, more to the fact that he found himself blushing. He had to stay strong; maybe it will give Electra some hope... Maybe Rusty coming here would actually help him, give him hopes to live.

"It doesn't matter, does it?" Electra asked, closing his eyes. "Just kind of wish... that Rusty were here... him and his stupid Starlight Express... give me one good laugh..."

"Electra..." Greaseball didn't how know he felt anymore. He looked down at Electra and saw someone completely different than from that Race. He saw not only a vessel but a spirit, something many other trains said he lacked. If they would be here right now, he could prove them wrong. Greaseball sighed, wondering how in the world he could cope without another argument or ego battle. His life would be much quieter, that's for sure...

"Now fess up... what's your secret?" Electra asked, looking up at him and grinning like the Cheshire cat. Greaseball gave him a look, but the AC train just snickered, snuggling closer to him for warmth. "I told you mine, now... you tell me yours... why were you crying a few minutes ago?"

He could have told Electra a lie, but, looking into those darn eyes, he found himself saying the words freely. "I was raised in these mines... and really the only family I had was my uncle and cousin. Everybody else were complete strangers to me, except Lube and Tank..."

"Members of your gang?"

The Union Pacific nodded. "We were close then, just as close as we are now, really. I was beaten and treated like crap, and, well... let's just say that I don't like this place at all."

"Ah... too many memories..."

"Yeah..."

"You're lucky, you know."

"How am I lucky?"

"Because... you remember your childhood... I mean, even if it hurts to remember, at least you had a childhood." Electra's smile faded slightly, and Greaseball could see the end coming closer and closer. He drew Electra closer, letting him know that he was there to see him off as a friend now. "I was built, one out of a few, and all I remember is coming to race night and meeting you guys. Before that the Components were kind of my family..."

The rain only got stronger outside, but to them it did not matter. Lightning brightened the sky, again letting Electra sparkle for one last time. Greaseball force the tears back as Electra's voice got weaker and weaker. "But... still... they died for me. Joule gave the warning, but it was too late... silly girl. Only shouts when it is not needed, right?"

Greaseball gave a weak smile, and Electra continued. "And the guy was smart to take out Krupp next, that I will admit... poor Krupp... didn't even get a shot in... would have made him happier to get a shot in, even if he died shortly afterwards..."

"So you DO know they're dead..."

"Volta... and Wrench... I couldn't see anything going on... I wanted to get Purse to safety..." Electra's tears began to flow again, and the Diesel train wiped them away. "Guess I just wasn't fast enough, huh?"

Now Electra choked, and he gasped. He had to hold on, just for a few more moments. He had more to say. "And... I lied to you..."

"Lied about what, Electra?" Greaseball asked softly, his voice completely different from his casual and strong tone.

Electra, with the last bit of his strength, looked up at him, gave him a kiss, and whispered, "I don't think... it's that stupid little steamer anymore..."

"Electra... no..."

"I... LOVE..."

He held him closer, but Electra did not finish his sentence. Greaseball knew, but he dared not let him go. His arms were bonds, keeping the Electric train close to him, seeing his system finally shut down... permanently...

"Electra..."

The cave was silent, but the rain kept on coming.

"Electra..."

The AC-DC Engine of the Future's head rested lightly on his chest, a soft smile lingering, blissful death to welcome him. Greaseball let out a sob, his grip getting tighter. "ELECTRA! ELECTRA! ELE-"

Then, something happened. As another flash of lightning lit up the cave, something sharp struck his open back, piercing through easily and protruding through his chest. Electra fell from his arms, and oil spurted out of his new wound. He looked at it in disbelief, then turned to face the murderer.

It was a Bullet train... wielding two katanas in his powerful arms, and Greaseball couldn't stop the gasp of surprise from leaving his voice. He whispered his name, as he blacked out. "Nintendo..."